I wonder if you could tell me if antacid tables need a hechsher. The item in question is TopCare Antacid Calcium tablets, distributed by Topco in Skokie, IL.

As with many antacids, TopCare Chewable Antacids are primarily made of ingredients which are innocuous from a kosher perspective. However, they contain flavors, and there is no way to know whether those flavors are kosher unless the antacid bears some form of kosher certification. Therefore, based on the assumptions that (a) chewable antacids are considered edible and (b) flavors of unknown status should be considered non-kosher, we cannot recommend these antacids. As you are likely aware, many Tums antacid products are certified as kosher by the Diamond-K, and that might be a suitable alternative.